American Bad-Ass
From Videoville
Artist: Kid Rock
Director: Dave Meyers
Label: Lava/Atlantic
Year: 2000
treatment
We open on a flickering light and the rattling sound of a projector. Our camera shifts focus and we see that the flickering light is grainy, super8 film footage of Kid Rock as a child. Note that we will create this footage ourselves using actors and film effects. We see Kid as a eight year old punk - racing around on his bike and posing in front of bondo-covered muscle car. There is a crazed light in his eyes - unmistakably Kid Rock.
Other images come into focus, all on textured super8 film - Kid as an eighteen year-old with a high top fade or as a tore up guy in his twenties with dirty clothes and down to his last dollar. These images shift and change, creating the backdrop for the life of Rock. One shot of the 8 year old Kid wavers and we pull back to reveal ...
The film is being projected onto the naked chest of the real, current Kid - standing in total darkness. The projector snaps off, leaving only a small shaft of light on Kid’s face as he leans into the camera and says, “Are you scared yet?” Off this surprising visual we transition to ...
An amazing festival of Harley culture meets high fashion set in a wooded glade. Kid Rock is in the center of the wildest party possible - grungy biker ride around on their rumbling hogs as high fashion model types sit on the back. We see leather and greasy T-shirts mixed with incredibly beautiful girls in mink mini-skirts. And Kid is the king of it all.
Kid Rock performs on top of a stage/huge tree stump next to a muddy pit where two of the model-women wrestle - covering their stunning bodies and expensive clothes in filth. Kid, dressed in a fresh, designer fur, performs right to camera as we crane up over the wrestling women. Biker types and unbelievable models cheer the women on. The vibe is a twisted party meets white trash heaven.
Kid’s hair is blown by an unseen wind as he grabs a sexy model in shorts onto his lap. He continues to perform as she wraps her long, bare legs around his body - Kid is totally in his element. We see slow motion detail shots of the debauchery in the woods. Celebrity cameos also enjoy the party (Limp Bizkit, Kiss and Korn as schedules permit).
We will utilize unique camera angles and high-end lighting to create a glossy, yet real, spectacle. Kid is photographed from low angles to make him look larger than life and there is always a sexy model close by. The Harleys gleam with chrome and the model’s clothes (what little there is) shine with sequins and high fashion touches. This is the bad-ass rockstar life as everyone imagines it.
We see Kid in another set-up, backed by an enormous American flag that waves gently in the breeze. A half dozen, sexy models dressed in tiny red, white and blue outfits stand behind Kid holding another huge flag. The girls use the flag to toss another one of the women high into the air. We get detail shots of the woman as she “floats” in slow motion - framed against the fluttering American flag. Kid performs in front of it all - the wind blowing his long hair as the women soar in the background.
At certain points throughout the track we see Kid spin around in place (amplified by effects) to create a Tasmanian devil-style tornado. When Kid stops his wardrobe has changed - from mink to a leather wife-beater T shirt, or from biker gear to a pimp daddy get up. Kid always looks amazing - he is lit and styled to perfection with the dopest hats, shades and other accessories.
Cut to Kid running through the forest - his arms pumping as he leaps over fallen logs and dodges tree trunks. The trees blur past the lens and they morph into ... urban roof tops. Chimneys and TV antennas fly past and still kid is running. He nears the edge of the building he is on and he jumps ...
Hanging in the air (via slow motion) for a beat before he starts to fall. An overhead shot shows Kid plunging down towards the skylight roof of a run-down warehouse. Kid wheels his arms as he falls into the skylight and glass explodes everywhere. Kid keeps falling down to ...
Land on the upstretched hands of a swirling mosh pit. The sea of pogo-ing kids catch Kid and lift him toward a flat stage in front of a row of tractor trailer trucks. A lame band plays on stage - booed by the crowd. The back-ends of the four trailers (which face Kid and the crowd) fly open simultaneously to reveal ...
A blinding flash of light from inside each one. As the light fades we realize that each gleaming, trailer contains one member of Kid’s band - playing their instrument with amazing energy. The lights, set at the other end of the trailers, behind the band member kick on again - firing down the inside of the trailer like a huge gun. The lame band scatters off the stage - blown away by the power of Kid’s band. Joe C. stands on one side of the stage - ringing an enormous bell with blows from a heavy hammer. This amazing band break down showcases the groups overpowering skills. The crowd lifts Kid onto the stage and as the vocals resume - he tears into the track.
We see Kid’s performance from the crowd’s perspective and he looks like a rock and roll demi-god. He does the Taz transition again and reappears in another dope outfit. Sexy girls in the front row beg for Kid’s attention - reaching out or throwing their lacy underwear.
As the track builds to its climax pyrotechnics go off directly behind the crowd. Flames and sparks shoot up towards the ceiling - illuminating the scarred interior of the old warehouse and pushing the crowds energy even higher. More firepots explode, creating a wall of fire that circles around the crowd from both directions. Slow motion shots capture the angry orange flames as they lick towards the ceiling - going off one after another until they reach the sides of the stage.
Kid delivers the final note as the lights behind the band blaze on and a huge firepot at the front of the stage explodes - wiping the frame with light. We have now transitioned back to the old film footage of the 8 year old Kid Rock. He angrily throws his bike down and glares at the camera. Jr. Kid flips off the lens as we ...
FADE TO BLACK
